Instructions for Contributors

Microscopy Today seeks interesting articles about microscopy and microanalysis and their applications that can be appreciated by microscopists in all fields. Since there are a large number of sub-disciplines represented in our subscriber list, we ask that your article be written in a semi-tutorial fashion for non-specialist microscopists. In other words, the general idea is to pitch the article at the same level as you would use sitting around a table talking to a mixed group of microscopists at a meeting, rather than the level you would use giving a formal presentation.

Regular Articles

Regular article length is about 2000-2500 words plus 4-6 figures and a few references. We like color figures. Longer articles will be considered. Shorter tutorial articles are encouraged for our Microscopy 101 department. See any recent issue for guidance about article headings (Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion) and reference format (numbered references). Following are two example reference formats:

References should be listed at the end of the article in the numerical order that they are called out in the text.

Feature Articles

These articles relate to a particular instrument or method of general interest to microscopists. These articles are about 3000-3500 words with 6-10 figures. The Introduction should be a mini-review of the previous literature related to the subject that shows how the present work relates to previous instruments, methods, or studies. The rest of the sections are described under 'Regular Articles' above. Feature articles contribute the four related cover images for the issue. Images that tell a story related to the article are preferred.

Article Categories

While most regular and feature articles describe an application or a new technique, there are other categories of articles. We consider contributions to the magazine department called Microscopy Pioneers, particularly those that commemorate microscopy advances of the 20th century. We also seek success stories about microscopy education methods and outreach for Microscopy Education. The Microscopy 101 and Microscopy Protocols sections describe basic and more complex procedures, respectively. Finally, an occasional Opinion page gives microscopists opportunities to say to our community what they believe should be said.

Figures

Figures should be submitted as separate tagged image file format (TIFF) files rather than being integrated into the WORD document. It is best to make annotations in an image-handling program such that they can be edited if necessary. All micrographs should have proper scale bars on the image or an image width stated in the caption. Because our digital edition provides a 5x magnification of all text and figures, images should be at least 300 ppi at 3.5" wide, our standard column width. If possible, please convert your images to cmyk color space (as opposed to rgb, etc.)

Abbreviations, acronyms, and units

Each abbreviation should be written out in full the first time it is used followed by the acronym in parentheses. Universally used abbreviations, such as "µm" for micrometer, do not need to be written out. Use SI (metric) units.

Editing

Articles may be edited for space, language, or technical level. In all editing, we aim to preserve the accuracy of content. Use third person in the text; use of first person is acceptable in some cases (if cleared with the Editor in advance), but avoid use of the second person "you," "yours," etc. We will send the corresponding author the edited article for comment prior to publication.